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| Name: | BenefitsLink.com |
| Description: | Employee benefits compliance information for practitioners, plan sponsors and plan participants. |
| Site URL: | http://benefitslink.com/ |
| Category: | /Business/Employment/ |
| RSS feed URL: | http://www.benefitslink.com/benefitslink.rdf |
| Syndic8 ID: | 937 |
| Language: | en |
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25 most recent entries:
[Guidance Overview] CMS Final Medicare Part D Regulations Affect Retiree Drug Subsidy (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
3 pages. Excerpt: "CMS recently issued final regulations that make policy clarifications and technical corrections to its earlier final regulations on Medicare Part D. The regulations contain provisions affecting the retiree drug subsidy program, including clarification of rules regarding the timing of applications for the subsidy, submission of actuarial attestations upon a material change and changes to the rules for determining actuarial equivalence." (authored by Buck Consultants)
Testimony: Trends in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
19 pages. Excerpt: "GAO was asked to discuss trends in FDA's oversight of DTC advertising and the actions FDA has taken when it identifies violations. This statement is based on GAO's 2006 report, Prescription Drugs: Improvements Needed in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising, GAO-07-54 (November 16, 2006).
More Who Need Major Surgery Are Going Overseas (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "No official statistics are kept on how many Americans travel overseas for medical care, but one estimate places the number at 150,000 in 2006. . . .
Georgia Laws Boost High-Deductible Plans / HSAs (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed two bills that provide tax breaks to insurance companies and aim to help residents afford healthcare coverage by combining high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts." (authored by Modern Healthcare Online; free registration required)
[Opinion] The Basics of Health Insurance (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Conclusion: Health insurance can help reduce the risk of paying unpredictably large sums for major medical care. But when policymakers try to turn insurance into something much closer to unlimited, on-demand medical services, it no longer works like insurance.
401(k) Disclosure Rule Would Affect Brokers (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Concerns mount about planned ERISA changes. Some say DOL's proposed changes to 408(b)(2) of ERISA -- especially those dealing with advance compensation disclosure and conflict of interest reporting aspects -- are overly burdensome and redundant. 'It switches the burden from the employer to the service provider to actually provide the information . .
[Guidance Overview] Retirement Plan Service Provider May Be Liable for Breach of ERISA Fiduciary Duty in Cross-Selling Rollover IRAs Invested in Proprietary Mutual Funds (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Pages 1-2 of 7 pages. Excerpt: "A federal district court in Iowa allowed class action claims to proceed against a financial services company for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ('ERISA'), resulting from the company encouraging retirement plan participants to roll over their 401(k) plan assets into IRAs invested in the company's proprietary mutual funds." (authored by Goodwin Procter LLP)
Audio: Insurers Eye Savings from Treatment Overseas (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Uninsured Americans are flying to Thailand for cheap surgery. But reporter Avery Comarow says U.S.-based insurance companies are studying the safety of sending patients to foreign countries for cheap major surgery.
[Guidance Overview] 10th Cir. Lets ADA Association Discrimination Claim Go Forward (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Here is another ADA association discrimination case from the Tenth Circuit, Trujillo v. Pacifica Corp., No. 06-8074 (10th Cir.
Connecticut Passes State Insurance Program Expansion (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Legislation approved by the Connecticut Legislature on Tuesday, May 6, would open up the health insurance program covering state employees to Connecticut municipalities, nonprofit organizations and employers in the state with fewer than 50 employees." (authored by Workforce Management; free registration required)
New Resource for ERISA Attorneys (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "[Rob] Hoskins, Esq. (legal counsel to the petitioner in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg) has put together a great resource for ERISA attorneys. The resource is called ERISABoard.
Why Women Are at Greater Financial Risk in Retirement and How Annuities Can Help (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
31 pages. Excerpt: "The Female Factor offers an analysis of women's economic position in retirement, laying out the factors that determine whether they will achieve financial security in their 'golden years.' This recently-updated report discusses lifetime annuities as an important retirement income security tool for women. When combined with Social Security and other retirement income, an annuity can help cover basic living expenses while addressing the risk of outliving assets.
[Guidance Overview] New Jersey Enacts Paid Family Leave Law (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
4 pages. Excerpt: "On May 2, 2008, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed the New Jersey Paid Family Leave Insurance Law (A-873; S-786). .
New York Attorney General Cuomo Sees Fraud in Some Lawyers' State Pensions (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Over the years, Mr. Cuomo said, the benefits have become a standard and expected perk for the lawyers, who often have political ties to the officials handing out the benefit. The system has proliferated, Mr. Cuomo suggested, because of New York's profusion of state, county and local governments.
American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations Study Shows Most Account Plans Use Preferred Provider Organizations (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Health savings account and health reimbursement arrangement sales could boost preferred provider organization enrollment. Researchers at the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations, Louisville, Ky., have published data supporting that conclusion in the AAPPO's latest annual PPO market review." (authored by The National Underwriter Company;
[Opinion] Building on Social Security's Success - The Retirement Debate (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Social Security is an excellent tool to meet the economic risks working families face. Given its proven track record, wise policy will balance Social Security finances without cutting benefits and then seek to restore the adequacy of benefits." (authored by Virginia P. Reno via The Wall Street Journal)
The Effect of Conflicts of Interest on the Scope of Discovery (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "As discussed in a prior article, the federal judiciary has permitted limited discovery beyond the 'administrative record' as the inquiries may bear upon the question of a structural conflict of interest as, for example, where the administrator and the insurer are the same entity. Another level of conflict of interest may exist, namely, that of 'third parties', such as consultants, who review the record and advise the administrator." (authored by Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)
Hispanic Americans and Retirement (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "While the following pages reveal the retirement attitudes and behaviors of Hispanic Americans, it is important to recognize that for some, the English language barrier is a cultural obstacle that has had a significant impact on their financial ambitions. Success -- as measured by earned income, financial assessment, and confidence in meeting retirement goals -- is greater among Hispanics who live in predominantly English-speaking households." (authored by Prudential Retirement)
Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
16 pages. Excerpt: "[This report is the fifth in a series]. Looking back at the data, it appears that there has been some progress in women's overall financial knowledge and confidence, they are more involved in these decisions and, in fact, some women are taking the leading role for their household. This year's study is designed to give a deeper look at some of the generational differences among women as it relates to their concerns, goals, and progress.
2008 Investment Company Fact Book (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "The 2008 Investment Company Fact Book provides an entry point to our extensive body of research and statistics on retirement savings, as well as statistics on, and analysis of, all types of registered investment companies and their investors, collectively referred to as funds and fund investors." (authored by Investment Company Institute)
State, Federal Laws Sidestep Employers' Vacation Promises (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "If your employer takes away your vacation benefit, can you do anything about it? That's the question some employees at Spirit Airlines say they've been grappling with since a change in the vacation policy at the start of the year. The employees claim that a gap between the old policy and the new policy stripped many at the Miramar-based airline of vacation days they had earned." (authored by South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
[Guidance Overview] DOL FAB Addresses QDIA Issues (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2008-03 to respond to a number of questions practitioners have raised regarding the final regulations on qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs) published in October 2007 and effective last December. The DOL also issued minor modifications to the final QDIA regulations." (authored by SunGard Corbel LLC)
PLANSPONSOR 2008 Ultimate Buyer's Guide: 403(b) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "Sponsors who decide to search for new plan vendors or a vendor that will take on the monitoring or recordkeeping function should look for providers that have 'best-in-class' investment choices . . . .
[Guidance Overview] Improving Returns on 401(k) Plans (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
Excerpt: "[I]s your 401(k) plan as effective as it can be in helping employees save for their retirement? Does it have auto-enrollment and other useful features that are available today from providers? These features can enhance the appeal of your employee savings programs and increase usage, making them even more effective." (authored by Towers Perrin)
Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Charts -- Retirement -- Updated May 2, 2008 (PDF) (May 09 2008 16:26 GMT)
11 pages. These charts summarize selected federal legislation that would affect employee benefit programs. The bills included on the charts are based on judgments regarding the prominence of the issue, the likelihood of enactment, and the influence of the sponsors. (authored by Towers Perrin)
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